Tag: Brian Houston

This originally started as a FB update. I guess it should go here, too.

Brian Houston has issued a clarifying statement that will placate many, but the problem here hits closer to the Gospel. Brian Houston and Hillsong have consistently preached cheap law, relegating our helpless, sinful state that we inherit ultimately from Adam to just having had some earthly oopsies. With cheap law comes cheap gospel of earthly recovery from oopsies by using the name of Jesus as a magic incantation rather than the Gospel that proclaims repentance and the forgiveness of sins. If he only makes statements like these when he’s under the heat of bad PR rather than from the pulpit, he is not preaching the Gospel that forgives sin, places us in right relationship with the living God, and secures eternal life.

Sinners, all sinners — not just one type that gets media and cultural attention, need to hear that Christ was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures. In doing so, the right penalty for our sin was laid on him; his righteousness is imputed upon all who believe.

How then does the above confession make any sense unless one properly identifies what our sin is?

“Always preach in such a way that if the people listening do not come to hate their sin, they will instead hate you.” — Martin Luther